Gabriel C. Lajeunesse

The Arab Spring and the Illusion of a Pragmatic Approach to Foreign Policy

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:45:35 PDT

If we continue to pursue "pragmatic" approaches in the moment, rather than truly pragmatic approaches that are loyal to our core values, we will find ourselves committed to handling crisis after crisis with far greater cost in blood and treasure.

The War of Ideas Revisited

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 05:10:52 PST

We need to reintroduce the War of Ideas into our policy lexicon and recognize that our national security interests are best served by the spread of liberty and free markets.

Radicalization in the Homeland—the Need for Community Partnership and Education

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:37:24 PDT

By educating our citizenry on the process and signs of radicalization we encourage early detection and warning of potential terror activities in the homeland. Without such an effort, we are at a marked disadvantage.

Towards a Fiscally and Politically Solvent Counterterrorism Strategy

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:09:43 PDT

Law enforcement, intelligence and special operations approaches to terrorism are more efficient and effective than counterinsurgency.

Detainee Photographs: United States Department of Defense v. American Civil Liberties Union, and the Protected National Security Documents Act of 2009

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:29:07 PDT

Reviews changes to FOIA and the expanded national security exception as a result of ACLU challenges and subsequent Congressional under the Protected National Security Documents Act of 2009.

Iran and the Myth of Deterrence

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 02:16:04 PST

The real issue isn't whether Iran can be deterred from the use or transfer of a nuclear weapon, but rather how a weapon would enable Iran to transform into a true global power posing a threat.

In Search of Justice: Increasing the Risk of Business with State Sponsors of Terror

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 07:43:58 PST

If the aims of tort law are deterrence, compensation, and provision of equitable distribution of risks, U.S. anti-terrorism laws have been marginally effective at best. Though Congress has passed legislation providing causes of action to U.S. victims of terrorism, compensation of victims is often difficult and terrorists are rarely deterred. Attempts to provide such recourse include the Antiterrorism Act of 1991 (“ATA”), the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (“AEDPA”), and the Flatow Amendment to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (“FSIA”). These attempts, however, are not enough. Until international banks and insurers realize the potential risk of doing business with terrorist entities, state sponsors of terror will face no hard policy choices, and the goals of deterrence, compensation, and equitable distribution of risks will not be realized. Legal mechanisms in this country must be strengthened to increase the costs of providing assistance to terrorism. Only then will the U.S. legal system provide an effective deterrent to state sponsored terror.

Countering Iranian Malign Influence: The Need for a Regional Response

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse et al. — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:09:23 PDT

Abstract: The behavior and the policies pursued by Iran ’ s current leadership pose profound and wide-ranging challenges to U.S. interests, the interests of its friends and allies, and the international community as a whole. Particularly concerning is Iran ’ s ability to foment instability through the use of terrorism. Recognizing this, the authors participated in a series of roundtables, discussions, and forums on Iranian Malign Influence. Participants included military and civilian experts from a number of Middle Eastern, European, and Central Asian countries, U.S. think tanks, and U.S. intelligence and interagency subject matter experts. This paper is a reflection of the insightful dialogue that took place during these engagements, and also incorporates newly declassified U.S. government information on Iran ’ s support for terrorism. This review revealed a need for a regional response to Iran ’ s malign activities in the region. Regional governments must take action to neutralize Iranian intelligence networks.

Policy Options for the Obama Administration: The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act as a Tool Against State Sponsors of Terrorism

Steve Perles et al. — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:57:20 PDT

The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, as amended in 2008, may provide an exploitable policy lever for the Obama administration as it seeks to deal with threats posed by state sponsors of terror such as Iran and Syria. Supporting private causes of action by victims of terror is both just and good policy.

Mr. Obama’s Pitch to NATO

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse et al. — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 06:02:16 PDT

A counterinsurgency strategy for Af-Pak.

Iran's other ticking time bomb

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse et al. — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:02:43 PDT

As the new American administration completes its review of strategy vis-a-vis Iran, policymakers would be advised not to fixate on a nuclear threat that all agree is one to five years away from realization.

Developing a Coherent National Security Architecture

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse et al. — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:52:12 PST

Interagency Reform

National Security Challenges Will Require Undaunted Leadership

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse et al. — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:41:38 PST

Discussing the need for increased leadership at the National Security Council.

Holding Iran Accountable

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:14:09 PST

Francis Gates v. Syrian Arab Republic, 2008 WL 4367284 (D.D.C. 2008)

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 06:16:35 PST

On September 26, 2008, Judge Rosemary M. Collyer, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, handed down a judgment for over $400 million to the survivors of Jack Armstrong or Jack Hensley, two American contractors brutally murdered by al-Qa’ida in Iraq (AQI). The judgment was rendered against the Government of Syria—held liable for the murders in a federal cause of action under the recently amended Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) for Syria’s material support to AQI.

Challenges for the U.S. Administration: A Broader Middle East Strategy

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse et al. — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 06:52:07 PST

The U.S. administration of Barack Obama will inherit a host of challenges in the Middle East. Several early policy choices could place its Middle East policy on solid footing:

Winning the War of Ideas

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:45:32 PDT

We are indeed engaged in a battle for hearts and minds within the Muslim world. New media tools allow extremists ideologues to communicate their message with great effectiveness. Hearts and minds will be won or lost one person, one community at a time. In order to defeat extremism, the US and international community must call upon citizen-statesman to aggressively advocate the ideals of liberty and freedom within their own communities and spheres of influence.

Winning the Next War

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse et al. — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:38:46 PDT

The United States has conducted irregular warfare and counterinsurgency campaigns since its inception.

In fact, part of America’s war of independence was an insurgency against the British. Since its independence, the U.S. has fought counterinsurgency campaigns against the Native Americans, against the South during the Civil War, in the Philippines, and, of course, in Vietnam.

The experiences of America’s friends and allies are similar. Among others, the British fought counterinsurgencies

in Malaya and Northern Ireland, the French in Indochina, Algeria, and Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Israelis conducted counterinsurgency operations during the two major Palestinian uprisings (1987-1993 and 2000-2005) in the West Bank and Gaza. Yet, America’s ability to conduct counterinsurgency has been more ad hoc than institutionalized.

Crimes Against Humanity in Iraq: The Case Against Iran

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:41:02 PDT

Sectarian violence in Iraq decreased significantly, but a lack of justice for the victims could rekindle passions. Particularly grave are those violations of human rights and humanitarian law committed by Shia militias sponsored by Iran. To increase the chances of justice and long-term reconciliation, the United Nations Security Council should act now and refer Iran to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for investigation of these alleged crimes.